Display apparatus and methods

Abstract

A display includes a plurality of pixel chips, chixels, provided on a substrate. The chixels and the light emitters thereon may be shaped, sized and arranged to minimize chixel, pixel, and sub-pixel gaps and to provide a seamless look between adjacent display modules. The substrate may include light manipulators, such as filters, light converters and the like to manipulate the light emitted from light emitters of the chixels. The light manipulators may be arranged to minimize chixel gaps between adjacent chixels.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A modular light emitting display apparatus comprising:
 a first display module configured to releasably attach to a support frame, the first display module being rectangular extending in an x direction and a y direction, the first display module comprising: 
 a first substrate having a front surface, a back surface, and an edge between the front surface and the back surface, 
 a first plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the first substrate, each of the first plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned along a first axis extending in the y direction, 
 a second plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the first substrate, each of the second plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned along a second axis extending in the y direction, the second axis being spaced apart from the first axis in the x direction by a first distance, 
 wherein no conductor that carries current to the first plurality of pixels is arranged to extend around the edge of the first substrate, and 
 
       a second display module configured to releasably attach to the support frame, the second display module being rectangular, the second display module comprising:
 a second substrate having a front surface, a back surface, and an edge between the front surface and the back surface, 
 a third plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the second substrate, the third plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned along a third axis extending in the y direction, 
 a fourth plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the second substrate, the fourth plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned along a fourth axis extending in the y direction, the fourth axis being spaced apart from the third axis in the x direction by a second distance, 
 wherein no conductor that carries current to the third plurality of pixels is arranged to extend around the edge of the second substrate, and 
 the second axis being spaced apart from the third axis in the x direction by a third distance when both the first display module and the second display module are attached to the support frame; 
 the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance all being equal to one another, and 
 
       wherein the modular light emitting display apparatus is operable to display an image generated using at least a subset of pixels selected from the first, second, third, or fourth plurality of pixels. 
     
     
       2. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third display module configured to releasably attach to the support frame, the third display module being rectangular, the third display module comprising:
 a third substrate having a front surface and a back surface, 
 a fifth plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the third substrate, each of the fifth plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned along a fifth axis extending in the y direction, 
 
 wherein the at least three subpixels aligned along the fifth axis are arranged such that a first subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a top subpixel and a second subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a bottom subpixel. 
 
     
     
       3. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the fifth plurality of pixels is nearest an edge of the third substrate in the x direction of all pixels on the third substrate, the second plurality of pixels is nearest to an edge of the first substrate in the x direction of all pixels on the first substrate, and the third plurality of pixels is nearest to an edge of the second substrate in the x direction of all pixels on the second substrate, the fifth axis being aligned with the second axis. 
     
     
       4. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the at least three subpixels aligned along the second axis are arranged such that a first subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a top subpixel and a second subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a bottom subpixel, and 
 the top subpixel of the fifth plurality of pixels is spaced apart from the bottom subpixel of the second plurality of pixels in the y direction by a fourth distance when both the first display module and the third display module are attached to the support frame, and the fourth distance is equal to the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance. 
 
     
     
       5. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each subpixel of the first and second plurality of pixels is a light emitting diode. 
     
     
       6. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least three subpixels aligned along the first axis the first plurality of pixels is rectangular, and the at least three subpixels collectively form a first pixel that is square. 
     
     
       7. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least three subpixels aligned along the first axis and the at least three subpixels aligned along the second axis are each LEDs, 
 the at least three subpixels aligned along the first axis are disposed on a first LED substrate, and 
 the at least three subpixels aligned along the second axis are disposed on a second LED substrate. 
 
     
     
       8. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least three subpixels in the first plurality of pixels are spaced apart from one another by a subpixel gap, the at least three subpixels in the second plurality of pixels are spaced apart from one another by the subpixel gap, the at least three subpixels in the third plurality of pixels are spaced apart from one another by the subpixel gap, and the at least three subpixels in the fourth plurality of pixels are spaced apart from one another by the subpixel gap, and
 wherein the second distance is equal to the subpixel gap and the third distance is equal to the subpixel gap. 
 
     
     
       9. A modular light emitting display apparatus comprising:
 a first display module configured to releasably attach to a support frame, the first display module being rectangular extending in an x direction and a y direction, the first display module comprising:
 a first substrate having a front surface, a back surface, and an edge between the front surface and the back surface, 
 a first plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the first substrate, each of the first plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned in the y direction, 
 a second plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the first substrate, each of the second plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned in the y direction, 
 wherein no conductor that carries current to the first plurality of pixels is arranged to extend around the edge of the first substrate, and 
 
 a second display module configured to releasably attach to the support frame, the second display module being rectangular, the second display module comprising:
 a second substrate having a front surface, a back surface, and an edge between the front surface and the back surface, 
 a third plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the second substrate, the third plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned in the y direction, 
 a fourth plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the second substrate, the fourth plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned in the y direction, 
 wherein no conductor that carries current to the third plurality of pixels is arranged to extend around the edge of the second substrate, and 
 
 wherein each of the first plurality of pixels, the second plurality of pixels, the third plurality of pixels, and the fourth plurality of pixels has a left edge, a right edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge, and 
 a first pixel gap is defined between the right edge of the first plurality of pixels and the left edge of the second plurality of pixels, 
 a second pixel gap is defined between the right edge of the third plurality of pixels and the left edge of the fourth plurality of pixels, 
 a third pixel gap is defined between the right edge of the second plurality of pixels and the left edge of the third plurality of pixels, 
 the first pixel gap, the second pixel gap, and the third pixel gap are equal to one another, and 
 wherein the modular light emitting display apparatus is operable to display an image generated using at least a subset of pixels selected from the first, second, third, or fourth plurality of pixels. 
 
     
     
       10. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a third display module configured to releasably attach to the support frame, the third display module being rectangular, the third display module comprising:
 a third substrate having a front surface and a back surface, 
 a fifth plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the third substrate, each of the fifth plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned in the y direction, each of the fifth plurality of pixels having a left edge, a right edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge, 
 
 wherein the at least three subpixels aligned in the y direction are arranged such that a first subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a top subpixel and a second subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a bottom subpixel. 
 
     
     
       11. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein a fourth pixel gap is defined between the top edge of the fifth plurality of pixels and the bottom edge of the second plurality of pixels, and the fourth pixel gap is equal to the first pixel gap, the second pixel gap, and the third pixel gap. 
     
     
       12. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the second plurality of pixels has a first pixel and a second pixel and each of the first pixel and the second pixel has a left edge, a right edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge,
 wherein the first pixel and the second pixel are adjacent pixels in the y direction within the second plurality of pixels, 
 wherein a fifth pixel gap is defined between a top edge of the second pixel and a bottom edge of the first pixel, and 
 the fifth pixel gap is equal to the fourth pixel gap. 
 
     
     
       13. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the fifth plurality of pixels has a third pixel and a fourth pixel and each of the third pixel and the fourth pixel has a left edge, a right edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge,
 wherein the third pixel and the fourth pixel are adjacent pixels in the y direction within the fifth plurality of pixels, 
 wherein a sixth pixel gap is defined between a top edge of the fourth pixel and a bottom edge of the third pixel, and 
 the sixth pixel gap is equal to the fourth pixel gap and the fifth pixel gap. 
 
     
     
       14. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the right edge of the second plurality of pixels corresponds to a first edge column of pixels adjacent to the edge of the first display module,
 the left edge of the third plurality of pixels corresponds to a second edge column of pixels adjacent to the edge of the second display module, and 
 the top edge of the fifth plurality of pixels corresponds to a first edge row of pixels adjacent to the edge of the third display module. 
 
     
     
       15. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the first plurality of pixels has a first pixel, the second plurality of pixels has a second pixel, the third plurality of pixels has a third pixel, the fourth plurality of pixels has a fourth pixel, and the fifth plurality of pixels has a fifth pixel,
 each of the first plurality of pixels, the second plurality of pixels, the third plurality of pixels, the fourth plurality of pixels, and the fifth plurality of pixels has a left edge, a right edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge, 
 the first pixel, the second pixel, the third pixel, the fourth pixel, and the fifth pixel each has a left edge, a right edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge, and 
 the bottom edge of the first pixel corresponds to the bottom edge of the first plurality of pixels, the bottom edge of the second pixel corresponds to the bottom edge of the second plurality of pixels, the bottom edge of the third pixel corresponds to the bottom edge of the third plurality of pixels, the bottom edge of the fourth pixel corresponds to the bottom edge of the fourth plurality of pixels, and the bottom edge of the fifth pixel corresponds to the bottom edge of the fifth plurality of pixels; and 
 wherein a first pixel gap between the right edge of the first pixel and the left edge of the second pixel is equal to a second pixel gap between the right edge of the second pixel and the left edge of the third pixel and a third pixel gap between the right edge of the third pixel and the left edge of the fourth pixel. 
 
     
     
       16. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the first pixel gap, the second pixel gap, and the third pixel gap are equal to a fourth pixel gap between the bottom edge of the second pixel and a top edge of the fifth pixel. 
     
     
       17. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the fifth plurality of pixels has a sixth pixel having a left edge, a right edge, a top edge, and a bottom edge, and a fifth pixel gap between the top edge of the sixth pixel and the bottom edge of the fifth pixel is equal to the fourth pixel. 
     
     
       18. The modular light emitting display according to  claim 9 , further comprising at least one flexible substrate, the at least one flexible substrate being positioned behind the first plurality of pixels in a viewing direction when the first display module is attached to the support frame. 
     
     
       19. The modular light emitting display according to  claim 18 , wherein the support frame has a first curvature radius and the at least one flexible substrate has a second curvature radius correlated to the first curvature radius when the first display module is attached to the support frame. 
     
     
       20. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein each subpixel of the first and second plurality of pixels is a light emitting diode. 
     
     
       21. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the first pixel gap, the second pixel gap, and the third pixel gap are darkened areas on the first and second substrates. 
     
     
       22. A modular light emitting display apparatus comprising:
 a first display module configured to releasably attach to a support frame, the first display module being rectangular extending in an x direction and a y direction, the first display module comprising: 
 a first substrate having a front surface, a back surface, and an edge between the front surface and the back surface, 
 a first plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the first substrate, each of the first plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned along a first axis extending in the y direction, 
 a second plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the first substrate, each of the second plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned along a second axis extending in the y direction, the second axis being spaced apart from the first axis in the x direction by a first distance,
 the second axis being spaced apart from the edge of the first substrate by a distance no greater than half of the first distance, 
 wherein no conductor that carries current to the first plurality of pixels is arranged to extend around the edge of the first substrate, and 
 
 a second display module configured to releasably attach to the support frame, the second display module being rectangular, the second display module comprising:
 a second substrate having a front surface, a back surface, and an edge between the front surface and the back surface, 
 a third plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the second substrate, the third plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned along a third axis extending in the y direction, 
 a fourth plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the second substrate, the fourth plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned along a fourth axis extending in the y direction, the fourth axis being spaced apart from the third axis in the x direction by a second distance, 
 the third axis being spaced apart from the edge of the second substrate by a distance no greater than half of the second distance; 
 wherein no conductor that carries current to the third plurality of pixels is arranged to extend around the edge of the second substrate, and 
 the first distance being approximately equal to the second distance, and 
 wherein the modular light emitting display apparatus is operable to display an image generated using at least a subset of pixels selected from the first, second, third, or fourth plurality of pixels. 
 
 
     
     
       23. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the second axis being spaced apart from the third axis in the x direction by a third distance when both the first display module and the second display module are attached to the support frame, the third distance being approximately equal to the first distance. 
     
     
       24. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a third display module configured to releasably attach to the support frame, the third display module being rectangular, the third display module comprising:
 a third substrate having a front surface and a back surface, 
 a fifth plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the third substrate, each of the fifth plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned along a fifth axis extending in the y direction, 
 
 wherein the at least three subpixels aligned along the fifth axis are arranged such that a first subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a top subpixel and a second subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a bottom subpixel. 
 
     
     
       25. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the fifth plurality of pixels is nearest an edge of the third substrate in the x direction of all pixels on the third substrate, the second plurality of pixels is nearest to an edge of the first substrate in the x direction of all pixels on the first substrate, and the third plurality of pixels is nearest to an edge of the second substrate in the x direction of all pixels on the second substrate, the fifth axis corresponding to the second axis. 
     
     
       26. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein
 the at least three subpixels aligned along the second axis are arranged such that a first subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a top subpixel and a second subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a bottom subpixel, and 
 the top subpixel of the fifth plurality of pixels is spaced apart from the bottom subpixel of the second plurality of pixels in the y direction by a fourth distance when both the first display module and the third display module are attached to the support frame, and the fourth distance is approximately equal to the first distance and the second distance. 
 
     
     
       27. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein
 the at least three subpixels aligned along the second axis are arranged such that a first subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a top subpixel and a second subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a bottom subpixel, and 
 the top subpixel of the fifth plurality of pixels being spaced apart in the y direction from the edge of the third substrate by a distance no greater than half of the first distance, and the bottom subpixel of the second plurality of pixels being spaced apart in they direction from the edge of the first substrate by a distance no greater than half of the first distance. 
 
     
     
       28. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein each subpixel of the first and second plurality of pixels is a light emitting diode. 
     
     
       29. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein each of the at least three subpixels aligned along the first axis the first plurality of pixels is rectangular, and the at least three subpixels collectively form a first pixel that is square. 
     
     
       30. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein
 the at least three subpixels aligned along the first axis and the at least three subpixels aligned along the second axis are each LEDs, 
 the at least three subpixels aligned along the first axis are disposed on a first LED substrate, and 
 the at least three subpixels aligned along the second axis are disposed on a second LED substrate. 
 
     
     
       31. A modular light emitting display apparatus comprising:
 a first display module configured to releasably attach to a support frame, the first display module being rectangular extending in an x direction and a y direction, the first display module comprising: 
 a first substrate having a front surface, a back surface, and an edge between the front surface and the back surface, 
 a first plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the first substrate, each of the first plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned along a first axis extending in the y direction, 
 a second plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the first substrate, each of the second plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned along a second axis extending in the y direction, the second axis being spaced apart from the first axis in the x direction by a first distance, 
 the second axis being spaced apart from the edge of the first substrate by a distance no greater than half of the first distance, 
 a second display module configured to releasably attach to the support frame, the second display module being rectangular, the second display module comprising: 
 a second substrate having a front surface, a back surface, and an edge between the front surface and the back surface, 
 a third plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the second substrate, the third plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned along a third axis extending in the y direction,
 a fourth plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the second substrate, the fourth plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned along a fourth axis extending in the y direction, the fourth axis being spaced apart from the third axis in the x direction by a second distance, 
 
 the first distance being approximately equal to the second distance, and 
 wherein the modular light emitting display apparatus is operable to display an image generated using at least a subset of pixels selected from the first, second, third, or fourth plurality of pixels. 
 
     
     
       32. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the third axis being spaced apart from the edge of the second substrate by a distance no greater than half of the second distance, and the second axis being spaced apart from the third axis in the x direction by a third distance when both the first display module and the second display module are attached to the support frame. 
     
     
       33. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the third distance is approximately equal to the first distance and the second distance. 
     
     
       34. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a third display module configured to releasably attach to the support frame, the third display module being rectangular, the third display module comprising:
 a third substrate having a front surface and a back surface, 
 a fifth plurality of pixels affixed to the front surface of the third substrate, each of the fifth plurality of pixels comprising at least three subpixels aligned along a fifth axis extending in the y direction, 
 
 wherein the at least three subpixels aligned along the fifth axis are arranged such that a first subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a top subpixel and a second subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a bottom subpixel. 
 
     
     
       35. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein the fifth plurality of pixels is nearest an edge of the third substrate in the x direction of all pixels on the third substrate, the second plurality of pixels is nearest to an edge of the first substrate in the x direction of all pixels on the first substrate, and the third plurality of pixels is nearest to an edge of the second substrate in the x direction of all pixels on the second substrate, the fifth axis being aligned with the second axis. 
     
     
       36. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein
 the at least three subpixels aligned along the second axis are arranged such that a first subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a top subpixel and a second subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a bottom subpixel, and 
 the top subpixel of the fifth plurality of pixels is spaced apart from the bottom subpixel of the second plurality of pixels in the y direction by a fourth distance when both the first display module and the third display module are attached to the support frame, and the fourth distance is approximately equal to the first distance and the second distance. 
 
     
     
       37. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein
 the at least three subpixels aligned along the second axis are arranged such that a first subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a top subpixel and a second subpixel of the at least three subpixels is a bottom subpixel, and 
 the top subpixel of the fifth plurality of pixels being spaced apart in the y direction from the edge of the third substrate by a distance no greater than half of the first distance, and the bottom subpixel of the second plurality of pixels being spaced apart in they direction from the edge of the first substrate by a distance no greater than half of the first distance. 
 
     
     
       38. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein each subpixel of the first and second plurality of pixels is a light emitting diode. 
     
     
       39. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein each of the at least three subpixels aligned along the first axis the first plurality of pixels is rectangular, and the at least three subpixels collectively form a first pixel that is square. 
     
     
       40. The modular light emitting display apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein
 the at least three subpixels aligned along the first axis and the at least three subpixels aligned along the second axis are each LEDs, 
 the at least three subpixels aligned along the first axis are disposed on a first LED substrate, and 
 the at least three subpixels aligned along the second axis are disposed on a second LED substrate.